Life

A characteristic that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes (biology) from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased (death), or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate.

Best practices

Methods and techniques that have consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and which are used as benchmarks to strive for.

Life: Best Practices is the term I like to use for those ideas, strategies and habits that will help me, and hopefully others along the way, learn to live a more abundant, enjoyable life.

Obviously, living isn’t something we’re taught. Living is something that comes natural to us. But, once you stop to think about it, is how you spend your life really “living”? I wrote in my last post that I enjoyed my current job, but was hesitant to say I loved it. I earn a “living” but does my “living” provide me the ability and time to actually “live”? What if we took the time and effort to focus on how to achieve the things we really want out of life?

And what is it we really want out of life? Before you answer that, think about it for minute. Most people would probably say what they want out of life is something akin to the American Dream.

“The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes a promise of prosperity and success. In the American Dream, first expressed by James T. Adams in 1931, citizens of every rank feel that they can achieve a “better, richer, and happier life.” The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence which states that “all men are created equal” and that they are “endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights” including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Home ownership is sometimes used as a proxy for achieving the promised prosperity; ownership has been a status symbol separating the middle classes from the poor.” – From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A better, richer, and happier life. Somewhere along the way, I think we, as a society, have lost sight of what truly defines a better, richer, and happier life. It is not about earning more money, in order to “live” (there’s that word again!) in a bigger house, drive a fancier car, or own more things!

A better life would be one where Life’s Best Practices become habits, because the methods produce superior results, making us richer and happier.

A richer life would be one where there is time to pursue those things that enrich our lives life.

A happier life would be one where we look forward to the present of each day, not just the weekends, holidays or vacation.

For me, this is the beginning on a Journey to Life. And like any good road trip, a little planning is in order.

1) Determine where exactly it is I want to go. To live a more abundant, enjoyable life.

2) Map out the journey (no using Google Maps for this one!) Reducing my current debt aggressively by eliminate ALL unnecessary spending and living a more frugal, minimalist lifestyle. De-clutter my life by reducing my personal belongings to under 100 things by December 31, 2010. Start my own small online business in order to become self-employed in the future.

3) Pack for the journey. Read, research, learn new ways to create the life I want.